---

name: xlsx description: Working with Excel files programmatically. user-invocable: false disable-model-invocation: true updated_at: 2025-10-30T17:00:00Z tags: [excel, xlsx, spreadsheet, data] progressive_disclosure: entry_point: summary: "Working with Excel files programmatically." when_to_use: "When working with xlsx or related functionality." quick_start: "1. Review the core concepts below. 2. Apply patterns to your use case. 3. Follow best practices for implementation."

Excel/XLSX Manipulation

Working with Excel files programmatically.

Python (openpyxl)

Reading Excel

from openpyxl import load_workbook

wb = load_workbook('data.xlsx')
ws = wb.active  # Get active sheet

# Read cell
value = ws['A1'].value

# Iterate rows
for row in ws.iter_rows(min_row=2, values_only=True):
    print(row)

Writing Excel

from openpyxl import Workbook

wb = Workbook()
ws = wb.active
ws.title = "Data"

# Write data
ws['A1'] = 'Name'
ws['B1'] = 'Age'
ws.append(['John', 30])
ws.append(['Jane', 25])

wb.save('output.xlsx')

Formatting

from openpyxl.styles import Font, PatternFill

# Bold header
ws['A1'].font = Font(bold=True)

# Background color
ws['A1'].fill = PatternFill(start_color="FFFF00", fill_type="solid")

# Number format
ws['B2'].number_format = '0.00'  # Two decimals

Formulas

# Add formula
ws['C2'] = '=A2+B2'

# Sum column
ws['D10'] = '=SUM(D2:D9)'

Python (pandas)

Reading Excel

import pandas as pd

# Read sheet
df = pd.read_excel('data.xlsx', sheet_name='Sheet1')

# Read multiple sheets
dfs = pd.read_excel('data.xlsx', sheet_name=None)

Writing Excel

# Write DataFrame
df.to_excel('output.xlsx', index=False)

# Multiple sheets
with pd.ExcelWriter('output.xlsx') as writer:
    df1.to_excel(writer, sheet_name='Sheet1')
    df2.to_excel(writer, sheet_name='Sheet2')

Data Transformation

# Filter
filtered = df[df['Age'] > 25]

# Group by
grouped = df.groupby('Department')['Salary'].mean()

# Pivot
pivot = df.pivot_table(values='Sales', index='Region', columns='Product')

JavaScript (xlsx)

import XLSX from 'xlsx';

// Read file
const workbook = XLSX.readFile('data.xlsx');
const sheetName = workbook.SheetNames[0];
const worksheet = workbook.Sheets[sheetName];

// Convert to JSON
const data = XLSX.utils.sheet_to_json(worksheet);

// Write file
const newWorksheet = XLSX.utils.json_to_sheet(data);
const newWorkbook = XLSX.utils.book_new();
XLSX.utils.book_append_sheet(newWorkbook, newWorksheet, 'Data');
XLSX.writeFile(newWorkbook, 'output.xlsx');

Common Operations

CSV to Excel

import pandas as pd

df = pd.read_csv('data.csv')
df.to_excel('data.xlsx', index=False)

Excel to CSV

df = pd.read_excel('data.xlsx')
df.to_csv('data.csv', index=False)

Merging Excel Files

dfs = []
for file in ['file1.xlsx', 'file2.xlsx', 'file3.xlsx']:
    df = pd.read_excel(file)
    dfs.append(df)

combined = pd.concat(dfs, ignore_index=True)
combined.to_excel('merged.xlsx', index=False)

Remember

• Close workbooks after use
• Handle large files in chunks
• Validate data before writing
• Use pandas for data analysis, openpyxl for formatting